The Hawke’s Bay Māori Focus Unit celebrated its 10-year anniversary late last year with more than 100 invited guests, including local service providers, iwi, departmental staff, politicians and ex-prisoners.
Opened by former Corrections Chief Executive Mark Byers on 10 December 1997, the Hawke’s Bay Māori Focus Unit (MFU) was the first of four further units now established at Rimutaka, Tongariro/Rangipo, Waikeria and Wanganui Prisons.
Māori Focus Units (MFUs) are designed to provide intensive rehabilitative intervention for offenders at risk of re-offending. Participants live and work in a therapeutic environment where staff, kaumaatua (elders) and kaiwhakamana (Maori volunteers) support the use of, and role model, tikanga Māori on a daily basis. A good example of a common tikanga Māori concept that is role modelled in these units is manaakitanga which essentially, means to show respect and kindness to others.
More than 170 prisoners began a Māori therapeutic programme last year - the length of time being determined by the prisoner’s needs and ability to progress from the unit to self-care housing or release. Although in most cases Māori offenders in these units acknowledge Māori ancestry, they can often be unaware of the concepts and values that are associated with being Māori.
The same security measures and rules are enforced in the units as in other parts of the prison, but the activities prisoners are involved in vary greatly. Some spend their days in work parties maintaining local marae, while others attend education classes and activities such as waiata (song), whakapapa (genealogy) and whakairo (carving).
A whakairo (carving) crafted by one of the prisoners, and unveiled by Dr Pita Sharples at the anniversary ceremony, now adorns the unit. The carving reminds staff, prisoners and visitors of the unit’s journey during the past 10 years, made possible through the commitment of local iwi and Māori Service providers working hard to help Māori offenders to help themselves.
“Kaiwhakamana and kaumatua involvement in the unit is vital,” says Regional Adviser Māori Service Development Barney Tihema. “Staff and prisoners are both supported and encouraged by these people. They are the backbone of our unit.”
Māori offenders have a disproportionately high level of representation across all stages of the criminal justice process. For every 10 Māori men who are released from prison, six of them will be back within two years.
Reducing reoffending by Māori offenders is therefore a high priority for Corrections. Research has proven that programmes, activities and therapy are best delivered when matched with a prisoner’s rehabilitative need, characteristics and demographics, including cultural background.
An evaluation of Māori Focus Units across the country is currently being carried out by the Department. This is part of an overall programme to evaluate all initiatives in the Department aimed at Māori and Pacific peoples.
• Māori Focus Units have paved the way for other specialist units, such as the Pacific Focus Unit opened at Spring Hill Corrections Facility in 2007.
Prisoners serving time in the Hawke’s Bay Māori Focus Unit took pride in decorating their entrance to mark the unit’s 10th anniversary.
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ISSN 1178-8453